Aren't there ways to read the shape files directly? Like ThinkGeo or even GeoTools. What i don't understand is the difference between these two approaches. Why just not load the shape file?
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sethMar 8 '12 at 15:06

Yes if you didn't need or want a spatial database (postgis) then you could load the shape file directly to geoserver. However shapefiles have limitations and you didn't specify what you wanted to do as far as how large the project can become etc. So i gave you all options.
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CaptDragonMar 8 '12 at 15:10

We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.

(+1) i would take your course if i were Seth.
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CaptDragonMar 8 '12 at 15:58

the tutorial contents contain following information which take from its web side:

This tutorial covers some of the most common Open Source GIS
technologies available today – PostGIS, a set of spatial extensions to
PostgreSQL; OSGeo’s OpenLayers, a client-side JavaScript map “mash-up”
application; and GeoDjango, a set of Geospatial extensions to the
Django framework. Using these technologies we will explain and
implement a web application using municipal street, school, police,
and property data from a typical US municipality (Wake County, NC).

Attendees will learn how to import and manage spatial data using
GeoDjango, perform basic spatial queries using the GeoDjango database
model, and develop and deploy web-based mapping services using
OpenLayers.